Cluster gages
#3078155
09/17/22 04:57 PM
09/17/22 04:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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fredericksburg,va
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Goes along with the grease post, how often does he PCM query the cluster, continuously, every 30 seconds or what? Looking for answers to why the cluster keeps bringing up no buss, abs, the speedo drops but comes back up and sometimes all gauges drop to zero. Then it all pops back on but check engine light stays on, code for tcc and overdrive. Trans has 500 miles on it but his stuff has been going on for over a year. About ready to put in field and burn it.
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: stumpy]
#3078183
09/17/22 07:01 PM
09/17/22 07:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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fredericksburg,va
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Been out and in 20 times or more, shimmed the connectors so it was in deeper (not much the way they’re positioned). Driving me nuts over 4 years replacing just about everything except engine and body parts. But I WILL get to the bottom of these problems
Last edited by cudaman1969; 09/17/22 07:02 PM.
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3078337
09/18/22 10:48 AM
09/18/22 10:48 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,303
north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,303
north of coder
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the next time the cluster is out, check the plug, both male and female terminals for loose pins or connectors, plus solder joints on the pins to printed circuit boards. the more times those connections are taken apart, the better chance some will become loose or broken. especially the pin or two that supply a ground to the cluster. i have re-soldered several late 90's-mid 2000's circuit board pins on mini van clusters over the years that exhibited many of the symptoms you describe. just my personal experience with a particular model vehicle. your mileage will vary. 
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3078445
09/18/22 02:07 PM
09/18/22 02:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,261
Omaha Ne
TJP
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I Live Here
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Omaha Ne
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I’ll try that. What’s weird is once anything goes haywire I blow the horn and they all jump back working lol. Is the horn grounding or hot connecting when pushed? On a 60's -70's vehcile Sounds like a flaky ground. The horn contact in the steering wheel, sends a ground signal to the horn relay which activates the relay coil. You might want to see if the ground strap is present between the column and dash bolts. Then check the ground from the body to the dash. loosening and Tightening the bolts may help as well. if it's 80's + up could be a different game altogether what yr mk & mdl ? keep us posted
Last edited by TJP; 09/18/22 02:10 PM.
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#3078539
09/18/22 07:07 PM
09/18/22 07:07 PM
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Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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2001 Ram Van, horn ‘button’ is in the airbag. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had the whole thing apart in 4 years looking for bad connection-grounds-anything. Every time I turn the key it changes, reason I was asking about timed cycle on PCM. I’m ordering a new speed sensor for trans and rear tomorrow, only things I haven’t changed out. Then I might send the PCM out to rebuild. Owner did that before I got the van
Last edited by cudaman1969; 09/18/22 07:09 PM.
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: TJP]
#3078591
09/18/22 10:12 PM
09/18/22 10:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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Not sure if the horn contacts switch power or ground on that vehicle But a schematic or at least knowing how the horn circuit works would be a good place to start as that affects the issue. Silly thought, have you tried disconnecting the actual horns to see if that affects the problem. If so by chance, try hooking one at a time up and see if the issue returns. Might also listen for a relay clicking, locate it and do the same. Horns typically draw a reasonable amount of current and if there's a flakey ground somewhere it might be backtracking through the steering wheel contact and WHACKING the cluster or PCM  Good idea, just glad this cluster doesn’t affect drivability at all. I think I read somewhere how the PCM checks if everything is within specs, if not it’ll throw a code. ?? Got to be a bad connection just need somewhere to aim, right now it’s like looking for a nut in a 40’ dumpster.
Last edited by cudaman1969; 09/18/22 10:13 PM.
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: Moparite]
#3079034
09/20/22 01:18 PM
09/20/22 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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"no buss" means there is a communication problem along the can bus circuit. That's why everything is going wonkey. Check all the connections form the pcm bcm up to the dash. What is the bcm and where is it at?
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3079145
09/20/22 08:41 PM
09/20/22 08:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,156
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 20,156
Park Forest, IL
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I had a 2000 Dakota R/T that acted exactly like this. After having a dealer want to replace ignition switch and gauge cluster with no guarantee it would fix it, I ended up replacing the pcm and it fixed it. Supposedly there was a broken ground inside it.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3079164
09/20/22 09:32 PM
09/20/22 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,156
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Park Forest, IL
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Yes. It also threw the ABS light. Changed the sensor in the rear, no change.
The dealer I went to basically wanted me to leave the truck and a blank check. I didn't bite.
Last edited by slantzilla; 09/20/22 09:34 PM.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3079172
09/20/22 10:01 PM
09/20/22 10:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,261
Omaha Ne
TJP
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Omaha Ne
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Looked at the horns this is what I saw but I see no where these two ground wires hook to ?! I'm thinking those may not be the factory horns but not sure. I am sure BUBBA's been there looking at the wiring and connections. Have you tried disconnecting them yet ? FYI: horns require a 12v source and ground. Different MFR's do things differently. Most will use a relay off the steering wheel contacts. What switch ( 12V or Grd) varies. I would start by completely disconnecting the horns and see if the issue goes away. Do insulate the connectors with tape to keep them from shorting). If it does, Time for a schematic to see what Bubba did and undo it.  keep us posted
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Re: Cluster gages
[Re: slantzilla]
#3079233
09/21/22 08:34 AM
09/21/22 08:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,230
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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fredericksburg,va
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Yes. It also threw the ABS light. Changed the sensor in the rear, no change.
The dealer I went to basically wanted me to leave the truck and a blank check. I didn't bite. My ABS light and the red brake light on cluster comes on too at times, once I turn the ignition off then back on it goes away. I looked at PCM, took cover off back and saw someone had cut-scraped the rubber stuff off down to board, nothing put back in to cover it back up! I had got another one from the pick yard (wouldn’t work on mine, wrong vehicle) time to send it off for reprogram, but where?
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